Bethany, OR to Medford, OR is 277.2 miles and takes about 5h 31m via I 5, with a fuel budget near $55 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Oregon, connecting the Pacific Coast region in the north to the same region in the south. It's a straightforward trip mostly on major highways, making it a practical choice for a single-day transit. Plan for a solid chunk of time on the interstate, but it's generally a smooth drive if you're looking to cover ground efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
138.6 miles from Bethany, OR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 46m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
261.3 mi
5h 5m
Beaverton-Tigard Freeway
6.8 mi
9m
Northwest Sunset Highway
4.7 mi
6m
Northwest 185th Avenue
1.1 mi
2m
Court Street
0.7 mi
1m
North Central Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
Crater Lake Highway
0.4 mi
<1m
East 4th Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 261.3 mi, about 5h 5m
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 57 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,057 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,425
Quietest
1 AM
~170 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bethany, OR and Medford, OR.
1
Start on Northwest 185th Avenue
1.1 mi·2 min·Northwest 185th Avenue
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward US 26 East: PortlandUse the straight / right lanes.
3
Merge onto US 26
4.7 mi·6 min·Northwest Sunset Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Exit 69AToward OR 217 South: Tigard, SalemUse the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Merge onto OR 217
6.8 mi·9 min·Beaverton-Tigard Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi·43 sec
Toward I 5 South: SalemUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 5
261 mi·5 hr 5 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward OR 62: Crater Lake Highway, Medford, Klamath FallsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn right onto OR 62
0.4 mi·52 sec·Crater Lake Highway
Use the right lane.
10
Turn left onto OR 99
0.7 mi·1 min·Court Street
Use the left lane.
11
Continue on OR 99
0.5 mi·1 min·North Central Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
12
Turn right onto East 4th Street
0.1 mi·24 sec·East 4th Street
13
Turn left onto North Fir Street
0.1 mi·15 sec·North Fir Street
14
Arrive at destination
North Fir Street
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 31m drive time, starting in the morning is ideal to allow for a relaxed pace and any unexpected delays. With only one recommended stop, you can choose to break up the drive roughly halfway or push through the 261.3-mile stretch on I 5 in one go. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you get further south on I 5, as services can become more spread out in certain sections. Budgeting around $55 for fuel should cover the 277.2 miles.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 138.6 miles from Bethany, OR, or about 2h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 261.3 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 61 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 138.6 miles or 2h 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Medford, OR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bethany, OR so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bethany, OR
This is one driving day of about 277.2 miles and 5h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Bethany, OR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 5 for about 261.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 275 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward US 26 East: Portland
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward US 26 East: Portland
5
1.4 mi into trip|~2m in|US 26 / Northwest Sunset Highway
Merge onto US 26 / Northwest Sunset Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
6.1 mi into trip|~9m in
Take the exit toward OR 217 South: Tigard, Salem
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 69A
Toward OR 217 South: Tigard, Salem
6
13.2 mi into trip|~19m in
Take the exit toward I 5 South: Salem
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 5 South: Salem
7
275 mi into trip|~5h 25m in
Take the exit toward OR 62: Crater Lake Highway, Medford, Klamath Falls
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward OR 62: Crater Lake Highway, Medford, Kla...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$49.12 one way
$98.24 round trip
$4.50/gal25.4 MPG avg97 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.82
$52.60
$105.21
premium
$5.04
$55.03
$110.05
diesel
$4.80
$52.34
$104.68
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$49
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 97 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
83.2
1
$29.11
$13.31
Efficient EV
69.3
0
$24.26
$11.09
EV Truck/SUV
110.9
1
$38.81
$17.74
Gas CO2
97 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Bethany, OR
Late night
in Bethany on Sunday
Local time
2:59 AM
PDT
Current temp
54°F
Mostly Clear
NNW 1 to 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 10:23AM PDT until July 18 at 10:00PM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
Destination
Medford, OR
Late night
in Medford on Sunday
Local time
2:59 AM
PDT
Current temp
57°F
Smoke
NW 1 to 8 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 10:23AM PDT until July 18 at 10:00PM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
3 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 31m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend 97% of the 277.2 miles on highways, with a continuous stretch of 261.3 miles on I 5. The Beaverton-Tigard Freeway and Northwest Sunset Highway will get you started before merging onto I 5. Expect dense exits and merging traffic as you navigate through populated areas early on, transitioning to more open highway cruising for the majority of the trip.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 261.3 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Beaverton-Tigard Freeway. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 277.2 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles (US 26 / Northwest Sunset Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Medford is a city in the Rogue Valley in Southern Oregon. The town is southern Oregon's largest and most diverse city, brimming with historical and cultural attractions while offering regional tax-free shopping. Medford is the county seat of Jackson County, and is the commercial and medical hub of southern Oregon. Its autumns tend to be very mild, and dry when compared to the rest of the state.
Top landmarks
•Barnum Hotel — historic hotel building in Medford, Oregon, USA
•Jackson County Courthouse — historic building in Medford, Oregon, United States
•James A. Redden Federal Courthouse — courthouse in Medford, Oregon, USA
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 31m. Total distance: 277.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 261.3 miles on I 5. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 26 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Medford, OR before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 26 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles (US 26 / Northwest Sunset Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 11.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Medford, OR before the return drive.
